A renowned good governance pressure group, Kogi Youths Roundtable (KYRT) has slammed the recent screening conducted by a section of Elders from Kogi East aimed at producing a consensus candidate for the November gubernatorial election in the State.
According to a statement signed by the forum’s Director of Media and Publicity, Comrade Ajogwu Jerry issued to newsmen in Lokoja, Kogi State Capital on Friday, it said the report is highly bias and egocentric.
The group urged Kogites to disregard the report by allowing a level playing ground for all candidates in the forthcoming election.
Part of the statement reads below:
“The process and eventual outcome of the Ahmodu Ali led screening committee is filled with dubious engagement and undemocratic attainments thereby raping justice to birth impunity. We urge all eligible electorates and politicians in Kogi State to disregard this shady engagement that is fit to be utilized only in the circle of the acclaimed elders who we understand do not have the interest of the State at heart.
“As a group, we want to affirm our stance, politics in Kogi State is not an adventure for politicians selected from Kogi East, every eligible candidate is permitted by law to participate in the forthcoming election by either contesting or casting votes in favour of any candidate of their choice. It is in the light of the foregoing that we are tasking party chieftains of all political parties across the State to shun the parochial screening report which according to our findings can heat the polity in anticipation for the November gubernatorial election.
“Kogi youths were not involved during the screening process. It is quite unfortunate to note at this juncture that it is disastrous to allow recycled politicians take important decisions for us in the 21st century politics especially at a time when the youths are taking over governance in saner climes. We strongly advise Ahmodu Ali and his friends to retire from politics or provide useful guide by positively mentoring the younger generation through fairness and honesty.
“We are standing on our initial vow and objectives which is to pursue good governance at all cost by encouraging the emergence of competent leaders to steer the affairs of Kogi State. We task all Kogites to join hands together and shop for the Messiah we are yearning for; the selfless leader that can propel Kogi State to greater heights”.
The group further urged the Yahaya Bello led government to clear the backlog of worker’s salaries while disclosing the resolve of the youths to embark on a 10,000 march against the incumbent if it fails to comply within the next two weeks.